Product Details

• Actors: Ciarán Hinds, Iben Hjejle, Aidan Quinn
• Directors: Conor McPherson
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 29, 2010
• Run Time: 88 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003DVB7BY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,354 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Eclipse [Blu-ray]" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Irish playwright Conor McPherson successfully transitions from stage to screen for his third cinematic go-round (after two less successful efforts). Woodworking instructor Michael Farr (Munich's soulful Ciarán Hinds), who lost his wife two years before, volunteers as a chauffeur for Cobh Cove's annual literary festival. As the event begins, he sees the ghost of his father-in-law, Malachy (Jim Norton), who isn't dead, wandering through the townhouse he shares with his two children. Michael seeks advice from Lena Morelle (The Boss of It All's delicately pretty Iben Hjejle), British author of The Eclipse, a book about ghosts. She suspects Malachy might be close to death. Married American novelist Nicholas Holden (Aidan Quinn in feisty Norman Mailer mode), who had a fling with Lena the previous year, has also arrived in the Cork hamlet, hoping to rekindle the flame, except the divorced Lena finds herself drawn to the soft-spoken widower. If Michael shares her interest, he isn't quite ready to move on, though the combination of a persistent ghost and a desperate novelist pushes him in unexpected directions. As that trajectory suggests, McPherson's minor-key movie takes aim at the adult audience, and those accustomed to more sensationalistic fare may find it a little dull. The angular cinematography and minimal special effects produce some genuine chills, but psychology ultimately trumps the paranormal. In that sense, it serves as a welcome throwback to the sophisticated chillers of the 1960s, like The Innocents and The Haunting. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

Michael Farr (Ciarán Hinds), a teacher raising his two kids alone since his wife died two years earlier, has been seeing and hearing strange things late at night. He isn't sure if he is having nightmares, or if he's experiencing a haunting. Working as a volunteer for an international literary festival, he is assigned to Lena Morelle (Iben Hjejle), an author of books about ghosts and the supernatural. Establishing a rapport with one another, Michael opens up and shares his terrifying experiences with her. However, Lena's attention is distracted by another novelist, Nicholas Holden (Aidan Quinn), with whom she had a brief affair. The trajectories of these three people lead them into a life-altering collision where the challenges of love, fear of the unknown, and release from the burden of grief are explored.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Ghost Story, May 24, 2010

By 

phil j (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eclipse (DVD)

There are many lovers and haters of this film. This is especially due (in my opinion) to the inexplicable title of the film that coincides with the laughable attempt of a vampire movie that shares the same name. This movie goes beyond any of the so-called horror movies that are on display at your local B-Buster nowadays, period. Think of classics like The Haunting and The Uninvited that are filled with subtleties that captivate the viewer while they do not feel cheap and overbearing. I can see why some feel cheated by this film since the horror aspect takes a back seat at times, but downplaying the horror is really effective in this case. There are many films that are not designed to be thrown into a specific category and this film is a perfectly blended cocktail of horror/suspense and drama/romance. Watch this film with the lights off and the sound up specifically for the scenes that will turn your skin as white as a ghost.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jump out of your chair, March 27, 2010

By 

RoseAnne Balogh "Hinds and Depp fan" (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Eclipse (Amazon Instant Video)

It took me about six viewings before I stoped jumping out of my chair at the ghost scenes. Celebrated Irish actor Ciarin Hines is a fantastic lead character, Michael. Paring him with Iben Hejejle was an inspired match. His humanity and her warmth kept me routing for a connection. The heart thumping kissing scene did not let me down. Aiden Quinn played a great selfish, drunk,jerk,Named Nicholous. I could not stand the guy. I hope it makes it to my small town so I can see it on the big screen. Im sure the video download was only an apetiser. Enjoy, RoseAnne

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing Film About Loose Ends, January 3, 2011

By 

C. Rothlind - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eclipse (DVD)

I did not know what to expect from The Eclipse and was surprised to find myself involved in the characters, even the annoying ones (Aiden Quinn). What could possibly recommend a film more than that?

Not expecting the unexpected, I was genuinely creeped out at least twice, something I haven't "enjoyed" in many years. I suppose that's the beauty of not knowing what you're getting into. Thankfully, shocking the audience is not what this film is about.

The Eclipse is for adults in the sense that adults tend to be more interested in character development and relationship dynamics, both of which are here beautifully realized by committed performances. Also, it does not sensationalize, being rather discrete about the supernatural elements the intrude, almost gratuitously, into the plot.

I'm happy to recommend this well-wrought drama that does what good entertainment ought to do--transport.